The fantastic story of the Regent is that of several other famous diamonds like. Greed, murder and cruelty play a role at the beginning. Difficulties, both politically and socially and personally accompany the stone to its last owner. This 410 ct. heavy rough diamond, originally known as "The Pitt" was one of the last large diamonds have been found in India. It is said that he was a slave in 1701 in the Parteal Mines (also partial Mine) located at the river Kistna. The slave stole the enormous rough diamonds by him under a federation of self-inflicted wound hid and fled to the seacoast. He talked of his secret to an English sea captain, offering him half the value of the diamond for a safe passage to a free country. But during the voyage to Bombay, the captain came over the temptation: He murdered the slaves and took the diamond itself. After him to an Indian diamond dealer for 5000 - had $ sale, the captain led a lavish life. He suffered from severe remorse and hanged himself in delirium tremens.
In 1702 Jamchund sold the diamond for 100,000, - $ the Governor Thomas Pitt of Ft. George, Madras, the grandfather of William Pitt, who is known to historians as William Pitt the Elder. William was the British Prime Minister, was named after the Pittsburgh. He sent the diamonds to England, where he him a 140.50 ct. large cushion-cut diamond (cushion cut) with dimensions of 32mm × 34mm × 25mm grind left. The grinding took two years to complete and cost about 25,000, - $. But a number of smaller diamonds brought more than 35,000, - a $. Some of these smaller diamonds were rose-cut and sold to Peter the Great of Russia. The main stone is seen today, despite a small inclusion as one of the finest and most brilliant of all the great famous diamonds.
The cut was originally designed by RH Long & Steele, but it lacked both the fine pavilion facets and facets on the crown. The British gemologist Michael Hing refined the design of the diamond by hizufügte the missing facets. Michael Hing edited several large diamonds, including the Hortensia, the Sancy, the Mouna and the Tiffany Yellow.
Regent of France - - In 1717 the diamond to Philip II, Duke of Orleans, was for about 650,000, - $ sold. Since that time the diamond is a "regent" known. He was in the crown of Louis XV. employed. He carried her to his coronation in February 1723rd He was removed from the crown and Queen Marie Leczinska worn in her hair. Two generations later graced the Regent a large black velvet hat of Marie Antoinette.
The highly sought-after gem disappeared along with the equally famous diamond "Sancy" and "French Blue" (from the ground of the "Hope") was, as the French treasury was robbed of 1792 during the early French Revolution, their fabulous jewels. Some of the gems were soon found again, but the Regent could not immediately be located. After 15 months, he was found in a hole under the timbers of a garret in Paris.
After the French Revolution the Regent was inserted into the handle of the sword of Napoleon Bonaparte, which he wore at his coronation in 1804. As Napoleon in 1814 went into exile in Elba, brought Marie Louise, his second wife, the diamonds to Austria. Her father, Emperor Francis I, led him back to France, where he was again part of the French Crown Jewels.
1825 was Charles X. Regent for his coronation. He remained in the Crown until the time of Napoleon III. Then he was caught in a Greek diadem, which was designed for Empress Eugenie.
Many of the French Crown Jewels were sold at auction in 1887, but the Regent was excluded from the sale and display at the Louvre as well as other national treasures. When the Germans invaded in 1940 in Paris, the Regent was taken to Chambord, where he was hidden behind a stone tablet. After the war, he found his way back to Paris, and was exhibited in the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre. He was in 1962 one of the features on the exhibition of French Jewels Ten Centuries in this museum.
